Lakota Sioux Indians

North Carolina seems to be the home of the Sioux. They lived as seven tribes. The word "Lakota" means ally or friend. They moved to the plains abut the middle of the seventeenth century. It was a great turning point for the Sioux when they acquired the horse from the Cheyenne. Once established in the high plains, the original seven Sioux groups divided. The Lakota drove the Crow, Pawnee, Shoshone from their hunting grounds. The Lakota smoked k'nick k'nick tobacco, which was an important spiritual element of their culture- the pipe from which they smoke from contains, or is the universe. In the winter, tribes would break up into smaller bands because it was easier to feed everyone that way. Lakota women performed a lot of hard labor and were not regarded any less than men. They were quite influential in tribal affairs. A willingness to follow leaders was never a strong suit for the Lakota. They really didn't rely very heavily or regard them as having the same authority as leaders in European cultures follow their leaders. It was also a Lakota custom to have different names for oneself at different points in life. Crazy Horse acquired his name from his father shortly after he related to him a vision he had of a dancing horse made of shadow.